The Elan Gale internet hoax sums up all that is rotten about our online lives | Hadley Freeman

When I was a teenager, I thought it would be great to be an adult and be surrounded by people who weren't mean to each other all day. Enter stage left: the world wide webBack in the early 90s, when I was still at school and words such as "friend" and "message" were nouns as opposed to verbs, a particular incident occurred. For a month or so, a book had been circling among my classmates in which we wrote anonymous mean things about each other, and the statements that were deemed the funniest – invariably, the meanest – would get (anonymous) stars of approval. One day someone wrote in the book that a classmate whom I'll call Rose had made out with her cousin. More details about this fascinating make-out session were added to the book daily, and reading about Rose and her cousin became the only reason any of us wanted to come to school in the mornings. Eventually the writer of the story, whom I'll call Charlotte, couldn't resist claiming the attention she felt was duly hers and let her involvement be known.The saga now reached peak hysteria and Rose tearfully went to a teacher. Charlotte was forced to admit that she had made the whole thing up, all because she wanted some stars. (Naturally, the most salacious story a privileged, protected 13-year-old girl could think of was someone making out with their cousin.) All of us stared down at the floor as she confessed, because even though we knew Charlotte had now laid herself open to the most deliciously sharp mockery, hadn't we... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2013-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "The Elan Gale internet hoax sums up all that is rotten about our online lives | Hadley Freeman"


Living in an Unfolding Apocalyptic Reality with Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, Emergence Magazine Founder

Emergence Magazine is an online publication with annual print edition exploring the threads connecting ecology, culture, and spirituality. As we experience the desecration of our lands and waters, the extinguishing of species, and a loss of sacred connection to the Earth, we look to emerging... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-01-09 09:50:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #narrated essays #sacred connection #online publication #emergence magazine #emerging stories


12 Sci-Fi Stories to Help Make Sense of the Climate, Risk, and Our Digital Lives

Don’t miss these short stories featuring firefighting drones, lab-grown mammals, long-buried fan fiction, and much more. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2022-12-30 10:50:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short stories #digital lives #make sense


‘The live shows have really lit a fire under us’: how podcasts became arena fillers

Funny, frank and intimate … in recent years, the live versions of audio shows have shot up by 2,000%. Now, comedians are selling out auditoriums nationwideWhen Freddie Mercury jogged on to the stage at Live Aid, he knew he had the crowd in the palm of his hand. When comedian and radio host John... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-12-27 15:00:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bloomsbury #live shows


Internet man uses AI to create a children’s book in praise of AI and it is fatuous and ugly.

What the hell are we doing? All the best things are shutting down and people are out here using computers to make children’s books? Not to get too Jeff Goldblum on you, but just because you build a tool to do something doesn’t make it interesting or worthy. To wit, a product designer named... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-12-13 15:19:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #children’s book #make children


Netflix is producing a live action 'My Hero Academia' movie

Netflix's penchant for live-action manga remakes isn't going away any time soon. The streaming service has revealed that it's partnering with Legendary Entertainment on a live action My Hero Academia movie. Anime and manga adaptation veteran Shinsuke Sato (Alice in Borderland, Bleach) will both... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-12 20:16:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #manga #source material #track record #worth watching


Libraries vs. the Cost of Living Crisis

Llibraries are well-placed to help people deal with some aspects of financial pressure. One Rioter shares how libraries are helping in the cost of living crisis. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-11-14 11:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #libraries


The King is Dead. Long Live the Kingdom.

Beyond Wakanda Forever, comic book writers like Evan Narcisse are extending the reach of the Black Panther’s story. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2022-11-11 10:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #comic book #black panther #wakanda forever #long live


The Biased Online Book Ratings Systems Undermining Professional Review Sources: Book Censorship News, November 4, 2022

BookLooks, RatedBooks, and more biased online rating systems getting books banned. That, plus this week's book censorship news. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-11-04 10:40:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online book


“A Ghost Is a Memory.” On Bodies, Belief, and the Places Ghost Stories Live

The proprietor’s name is Amy (except that, of course, it isn’t). She’s a kind, petite woman in her forties, the owner of a ghost-themed bookstore in a small southern city. I won’t tell you which city. It’s for your own safety. This is, after all, a ghost story. And most importantly: it’s true.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-10-31 08:57:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookstore #bookshop #ghost story


The Nine Lives of a Cat (Book Cover)

While others sweat the fate of their book cover, for me, it’s the part of the publishing process I look forward to most. I not only love contemplating book covers and exploring options, but as the former art director at a major publishing house, I have a unique appreciation for how important the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-10-26 08:53:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #major publishing #art director #publishing process #book cover


Lively Awards Ceremony Kicks Off Heartland Fall Forum

Heartland Fall Forum, the 10th joint show co-hosted by the Midwest Indie Booksellers and Great Lakes Indies Booksellers associations, kicked off yesterday evening in St. Louis with a raucous awards ceremony. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Publishers, Internet Archive Ready for Summary Judgment Hearing in Book Scanning Case

A federal judge is now ready to hear arguments for summary judgment in a closely watched copyright case filed by four major publishers against the Internet Archives over its program to scan and lend library books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #summary judgment #federal judge #major publishers


Panel Mania: The Keeper: Soccer, Me, and the Law That Changed Women's Lives by Kelcey Ervick

Kelcey Ervick’s ‘The Keeper’ is a graphic memoir about her love of soccer as well as a lively celebration of girl athletes and the role of sports and Title IX legislation in transforming the lives of American girls and women for the better. An eight-page excerpt. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #graphic memoir #eight-page excerpt #kelcey ervick


Public Libraries Now Have To Deal With Hoax Bomb Threats

The anonymous messages come as conservatives wage a culture war over events and books with LGBTQ or racial justice themes. Continue reading at HuffPost

[ HuffPost | 2022-09-23 21:22:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #public libraries #culture war


Panel Mania: The Five Lives of Hilma af Klint by Philipp Deines

In Phiiipp Deines new graphic biography of Hilma af Klint (1867-1944), he depicts her path to creating abstract paintings, the role of spiritualism in her life, and the individuals that helped to shape her distinctive and innovative works of art. A 9-page excerpt. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-09-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #graphic biography


A lively peek at Democratic politics, through Biden’s and Obama’s eyes

Recounting their relationship, Gabriel Debenedetti offers colorful behind-the-scenes stories and vivid details that will appeal to political obsessives. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-09-16 10:00:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #vivid details


Publishers, Internet Archive Trade Reply Briefs in Book Scanning Case

In the lengthy filings, the parties sharpen their arguments for summary judgment in the closely watched copyright case. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-09-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #summary judgment


On the Historical Fiction That Lives in the Space Between History and Myth

Let me begin with this admission: every work of historical fiction lives somewhere between history and myth. Before one reckons with the realities of what the research reveals, one must contend with all the layers of subsequent representation of whatever historical moment they approach. Even the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-09-01 08:52:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #historical fiction


IPA: ‘Global Significance’ in the Internet Archive Lawsuit

As another court date in the Internet Archive lawsuit approaches this week, the International Publishers Association has led an amicus brief. The post IPA: ‘Global Significance’ in the Internet Archive Lawsuit appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-31 22:11:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers association #post ipa


Cengage’s Gale and Bodleian Libraries: Asia-Pacific Fellowships

The Gale-Bodleian Libraries partnership is in its second year of Asia-Pacific research into digital humanities fellowships. The post Cengage’s Gale and Bodleian Libraries: Asia-Pacific Fellowships appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-24 20:19:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #libraries #bodleian libraries